diff --git a/boards/samr21-xpro/include/board.h b/boards/samr21-xpro/include/board.h
index d4c85706e7..866c51ca9c 100644
--- a/boards/samr21-xpro/include/board.h
+++ b/boards/samr21-xpro/include/board.h
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ extern "C" {
 /**
  * Assign the hardware timer
  */
-#define HW_TIMER            TIMER_1
+#define XTIMER              TIMER_1
+#define XTIMER_CHAN         (0)
 
 /**
 * @name AT86RF233 configuration